GB2370235A

GB2370235A - A question and answer board game

Info

Publication number: GB2370235A
Application number: GB0026481A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Mark Rowland; Jack Anthony Jacobs
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-10-30
Filing date: 2000-10-30
Publication date: 2002-06-26
Also published as: GB0026481D0

Abstract

An apparatus for playing a question and answer board game comprises a board 1 defining a track 2 having a plurality of adjacent regions which the playing pieces (24 figure 8) follow and on which selected regions 4,5,6,7 are printed indicia indicating a reward for the player whose piece (24 figure 8) lands on those selected regions 4,5,6,7. A first pack of cards (8 figure 2) each of which presents a plurality of questions (10,11,12 figure 3) of increasing difficulty and potential answers to the questions with only one of the potential answers to each question being correct, and a second pack of cards (9 figure 2) which displays the correct answers (14,15,16 figure 4) to the questions asked on the first pack of cards. The apparatus also includes a plurality of answer stands (27 figure 9) and blocking elements (26 figure 9) to block selected answers. The answer stands may have a plurality of recesses (28,29 figure 9) each corresponding to a potential answer and dimensioned to receive a blocking element.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A BOARD GAME"

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a board game.

According to this invention there is provided a board game, the board game comprising a board, the board defining a track, the track comprising a plurality of adjacent regions adapted to be followed by a playing piece, at least selected regions on the track being provided with indicia indicating a reward to be obtained by a player whose playing piece lands upon that region, a first pack of cards having a plurality of cards each of which presents a plurality of questions, and potential answers to the questions, only one of the potential answers to each question provided on the card being correct, and a second pack of cards having a corresponding plurality of cards which set out the correct answers to the questions asked on the first pack of cards.

Preferably each of the plurality of cards of the first pack of cards sets out three questions.

Conveniently the first pack of cards includes an additional card setting out a single question, and a plurality of potential answers to the question, only one potential answer being correct, the second pack of cards containing a card which sets out the correct answer to said single question. The board game may additionally comprise a stand adapted to display a card from the first pack of cards.

Conveniently the game further comprises a plurality of answer stands, and associated blocking elements, each answer stand showing potential answers to the questions asked on the cards of the said pack of cards, and blocking elements adapted to block selected answers.

Advantageously the answer stand defines a plurality of recesses, each corresponding to a potential answer, each recess being dimensioned to receive a said blocking element.

Conveniently the board game comprises a scoring mechanism for each player adapted to indicate the score attributed to each player at any instant in the game.

Preferably the scoring mechanism comprises a base board provided with a plurality of flip-over sets of tabs, the tabs carrying numerical indicia.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE I is a perspective view of a board for use in playing the board game of the invention, FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing two packs of cards intended for use when playing the board game in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 3 illustrates a typical card from one of the packs of cards, FIGURE 4 illustrates an associated card from the second pack of cards, FIGURE 5 illustrates a specific card from the first pack of cards, FIGURE 6 illustrates an associated card from the second pack of cards, FIGURE 7 illustrates a stand for displaying a card from the first pack of cards, FIGURE 8 illustrates a playing piece, FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of an answer-frame and blocking pieces for use with the answer-frame, FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a Rule Card, and FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a scoring mechanism.

A preferred board game, comprising the example in the invention, consists of a board, as shown in Figure 1, a pair of packs of cards, as shown in Figures 2 to 6, a stand as shown in Figure 7, four playing pieces as shown in Figure 8, four display stands and associated blocking elements, as shown in Figure 9, a Rule Card as shown in Figure 10 and four display mechanisms as shown in Figure 11.

Referring to Figure 1, a board is provided with a path 2 to be followed by the playing pieces that will be described hereinafter. The path 2 is of generally oval form and is divided into a plurality of adjacent regions. In the illustrated embodiment there are ninety-one adjacent regions. One region 3 is the starting region, and various regions around the path are provided with indicia indicating various points that may be achieved by a player whose playing piece lands on that particular region. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, a region 4 close to the start region 3, carries the indicia 2,000, indicating that 2,000 points will be awarded to a player whose playing piece lands on that particular region. Further regions are also marked with the indicia 2, 000. Another region, such as the region 5, carries the indicia 3,000 and, indeed, a number of regions carry this indicia. Further regions carry indicia relating to a larger number of points. Thus the region 6 carries the indicia 5,000. There are further regions which carry the indicia 5,000. It is to be noted that the regions carrying the highest number of points are located furthest from the start region 3.

The region 7, which is furthest from the region 3, which actually

constitutes the end of the track, is coloured gold and may be termed"The Gold Sector". In the illustrated embodiment the region 7 is superimposed on the region 3.

Figure 2 illustrates two packs of cards, 8,9, intended for use with the board. The rear face of each card of each pack may carry a logo identifying the game. The first pack of cards consists of a number of cards, each of which poses three questions of increasing difficulty.

Referring now to Figure 3, a typical card from the first pack of cards is illustrated, and it can be seen that the card poses a first question, 10, which is of the"True or False ?" type. Thus the answer to the question is simply the word"True"or the word"False". The card also poses a second question 11 of increasing difficulty, and the card sets out three possible answers to the question identified by the letters"A","B"and"C". Only one of these answers is correct. The card poses a third question 12, of greater difficulty. The card provides four potential answers for this question identified by the letters"A", "B","C"and"D". Only one of these answers is correct. The card indicates the number of the question card within the pack with an indicating reference 13.

Figure 4 illustrates a card taken from the pack 9. This card is a card which is associated with the described card taken from the pack 8, and the card illustrated in Figure 4 sets out the correct answers to the questions. Thus the card provides, as indicated at 14, the answer to the first question and, as indicated at 15, the answer to the second question and, as indicated at 16, the answer to the third question. For identifying purposes the card carries an indicia 17 which tallies with the indicia 13 provided on the card described with reference to Figure 3 so that it can be seen that the card illustrated in Figure 4 shows the correct answers for the card illustrated in Figure 3.

The pack of cards 8 will contain thirty cards of the type shown in Figure 3, each setting out different questions and the pack of cards 9 will, of course, contain thirty corresponding cards which set out the correct answers. The pack of cards 8 will also contain a single gold card which may be gold coloured and is as shown in Figure 5. The gold card sets out a single question 18 which has four potential answers identified by the letters"A","B","C"and "D". Only one answer is correct. The card, as shown in Figure 15, carries an indicia 19, which confirms that the card is indeed the"gold"card.

Figure 6 illustrates the card present in the pack 9 which corresponds with the gold card as shown in Figure 5. The card, as shown in Figure 6, carries, as shown at 20, the correct answer to the question posed on the card shown in Figure 5. The card also carries an indicia 21 confirming that it is the card which corresponds with the card as shown in Figure 5 taken from the pack 8.

It is envisaged that whilst only one pair of packs of cards is used when the game is played, the game will initially be supplied with a plurality of pairs of packs of cards, such as the packs 8 and 9, each carrying different questions and, of course, the correct answers to those questions. This enables the game to be re-played by the same players.

Figure 7 illustrates a stand 22 presenting a surface 23 adapted to receive and support a card taken from the pack 8 so that the questions thereon may be displayed so as to be readily visible by people playing the game.

Figure 8 illustrates a playing piece 24 for use by a player of the game. It is envisaged that four playing pieces of different colours will be provided, so that the game can be readily played by four players. Each playing piece may carry a logo.

Figure 9 illustrates an answer-frame and a plurality of associated blocking pieces 26. Each player will be provided with an answer-frame 25 and, in the presently described embodiment, six blocking pieces, such as the blocking pieces 26. The frame and the blocking pieces may be colour coded to correspond with the colour coding of the playing pieces 24.

It can be seen that the answer-frame 25 is adapted to stand in a substantially upright position with a front face 27 thereof directed towards the player. The front face of the frame is provided with a plurality of recesses 28, 29 etc. , each of which corresponds to one of the answers for each of the three questions present on the card shown in Figure 3. It is envisaged that a player may use the blocking pieces 26 by inserting the blocking pieces into the recesses which correspond to the incorrect answers, and thus the answer-frame may be moved to a condition in which only the answers considered by a player to be correct remain indicated. The player may insert the blocking pieces in position in the answer-frame while the frame is directed towards him so that the player's attempts to identify the correct answers to the questions are kept confidential until the answer-frames are turned round.

Figure 10 illustrates a rule card 30 setting out the rules of the game.

Figure I I illustrates a scoring mechanism 31. The scoring mechanism 31 comprises a base board 32. The base board 32 is provided with a plurality of packs of tabs, such as the tabs 33,34, which are mounted on the base board 32 by means of wire hoops 35 so that the tabs may be flicked over.

The tabs are provided with numerical indicia, such as the indicia 36 thereon. The tabs may be moved appropriately to show the score of each player. It is to be noted, that in this embodiment, since points are only awarded in units of 10 or above, the final digit shown on the display is a simple 0, indicated by reference numeral 37, marked directly on the base board 32. No pack of flipover tabs is associated with this digit.

In order to play the game, initially each player is issued with a playing piece and an answer-frame with blocking pieces, and a scoring mechanism. The four playing pieces are placed on the start square 3. A first card is taken from the pack of cards 8, and is displayed upon the stand 7 so that all the players can view the card.

Players may attempt to answer only the easiest question 10, thus providing a simple answer to the"True or False ?" question or, in addition to answering that question may also attempt to answer the second question, providing an indication as to which of the three possible answers is correct.

Additionally players may attempt to answer the most difficult question, indicating which of the four possible answers is correct.

If a player gets any one of the answers incorrect, their playing piece is not allowed to advance. If a player simply answers the first question, their playing piece is allowed to advance by two regions. 250 points will be awarded. If a player answers the first two questions correctly, the playing piece is allowed to advance by three regions and 750 points will be awarded, and if a player answers all three questions correctly, the playing piece is allowed to advance by four regions and 1, 500 points are awarded.

Thus, when the first card has been displayed upon the stand 23, all the players will simultaneously apply the blocking pieces to their answer-frames, in a confidential manner, attempting to identify the correct answer to one or more of the questions. Then the answer-frames are turned round so that other players can see the frames and the card from the second pack of cards is considered to see if players have determined the correct answers to the questions.

In this embodiment of the invention there is no time limit for the answering of questions, but it is envisaged that in a modified embodiment of the invention, a time limit for answering questions may be set. In such an embodiment of the invention, a timing mechanism, such as a sand-glass, or an appropriately designed clock may be provided.

If, when a playing piece has been moved by the appropriate number of regions, following the answering of a question, the playing piece lands on a region such as, for example, the region 5, which carries a special indicia, as described above, the number of points indicated will be added to the score of that player.

The correct score of each player is displayed on the appropriate scoring mechanism.

The process is repeated up to thirty times, thus consuming the thirty cards in the pack 8, unless a player reaches The Gold Sector 7.

When all of the thirty cards have been consumed, or when a player has reached the Gold Sector 7, the game moves into its final phase.

If all of the thirty cards have been consumed, the Gold Card, as shown in Figure 5, is placed upon the stand 23. The players then individually have the option of attempting to identify the correct answer to the Gold question or not.

If they choose not to attempt to identify the answer to the Gold question, they retain all the points that they have scored up to that stage in the game. If they choose to attempt to identify the correct answer to the Gold question, they may gamble some or all of the points previously earned. They must indicate the number of points being gambled as they answer the question. A wrong answer will lose the player the points that have been gambled, but a correct answer will double the points that have been gambled. In a preferred method of playing the game, players have to make binding"gambling"decisions before the Gold question is placed upon the stand 23.

If the game enters the final phase because a player (or more than one player) has reached The Gold Sector 7, the or each player who has reached The Gold Sector may exercise one of three options. The first option is not to answer the Gold question and to retain all points scored. The second option is to gamble a selected amount of the points scored with the option of losing all the points gambled for an incorrect guess as to the answer to the Gold question, and a doubling of the points gambled if the correct guess is achieved. The final option is to gamble all of the points scored in the game. In this case, should the player guess the correct answer to the Gold question, 1, 000,000 points will be added to his accumulative score, and if an incorrect guess as to the correct answer to the Gold question is presented, all points are lost.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A board game, the board game comprising a board, the board defining a track, the track comprising a plurality of adjacent regions adapted to be followed by a playing piece, at least selected regions on the track being provided with indicia indicating a reward to be obtained by a player whose playing piece lands upon that region, a first pack of cards having a plurality of cards each of which presents a plurality of questions, and potential answers to the questions, only one of the potential answers to each question provided on the card being correct, and a second pack of cards having a corresponding plurality of cards which set out the correct answers to the questions asked on the first pack of cards.
2. A board game according to Claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of cards of the first pack of cards sets out three questions.
3. A board game according to Claim I or 2 wherein the first pack of cards includes an additional card setting out a single question, and a plurality of potential answers to the question, only one potential answer being correct, the second pack of cards containing a card which sets out the correct answer to said single question..
4. A board game according to any one of the preceding Claims comprising a stand adapted to display a card from the first pack of cards.
5. A board game according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the game further comprises a plurality of answer stands, and associated blocking elements, each answer stand showing potential answers to the questions asked on the cards of the said pack of cards, and blocking elements adapted to block selected answers.
6. A board game according to Claim 5 wherein the answer stand defines a plurality of recesses, each corresponding to a potential answer, each recess being dimensioned to receive a said blocking element.
7. A board game according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the board game comprises a scoring mechanism for each player adapted to indicate the score attributed to each player at any instant in the game.
8. A board game according to Claim 7 wherein the scoring mechanism comprises a base board provided with a plurality of flip-over sets of tabs, the tabs carrying numerical indicia.
9. A board game substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
10. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.